ONLINE ADVANCED

Once payment has been received, we will send you the first module via email.

Course overview
This caters to anyone with a keen interest in fashion and portraiture photography, who wants more knowledge on these subjects to pursue a professional career and who is based anywhere in the world. At the end of the 6-month course you will receive a certificate of completion and a reference with a complete assessment of your performance and levels achieved throughout the course. Additionally, throughout the course, you receive detailed feedback sheets upon the completion of each assignment, which you can also show to prospective employers.

• 14 modules
• Study over 6 months in your own time and pace
• Staged modules and set assignments to complete
• Dedicated email and telephone access to a professional photographer for feedback and guidance
• Choice to extend the course to study over a full year

MODULE 1
CAMERAS AND LENSES
• The benefit of different cameras and their uses
• Small, Medium and Large formats
• Camera functions and their uses
• Benefits of SLR in depth
• Does format size really matter?
• The benefits of different lenses
• Picking the the right lens for the job
• What is focal length?
• Aberration and distortion
• What does macro mean?
• Extension tubes and their uses
• Filters
• How to take care of your lens and camera body
• Sharpness

MODULE 2
APERTURE, SHUTTER SPEED AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS
• Shutter types and their characteristics
• Shutter Speeds
• F/Stop Explained
• The aperture/ shutter speed relationship
• Reciprocity
• Depth of field explained
• What is Bokeh?
• What happens to the performance of the lens compared to f/stops?
• Working with depth of field
• Depth of field preview
• View cameras and the digital sensor
• How to select the correct aperture for the job
• Why use Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or Program Mode?
• How to bring it together
• Previsualisation

MODULE 4
THE FILM AND DIGITAL PROCESS
• History of the the photographic process
• The development and construction of film
• Black and white film & Colour film overview
• Special film
• Film processing
• Pushing & pulling
• High sensitive film
• Digital image capture
• CMOS,CMS, and Scanning backs explained
• Digital compared to film; which is best?
• Rendition of greens
• Highlight & Shadow detail
• Linear Digital Curve vs Shoulder & Toe Film Curve
• How to use histogram
• Disable those digital camera enhancements

MODULE 7
HOW TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS
• Why do I want to become a photographer?
• Commercial reality
• Educate yourself
• A process for photographing objects
• A mental shooting checklist
• What is important in the shot?
• What am I trying to achieve?
• Near enough is not good enough
• Think like a lens
• Have I seen this photo before?
• Think before you shoot
• Previsualising again
• Adobe RGB and sRGB
• Using the preview tools
• Working tethered
• Don’t fix it in Photoshop (bad photography)
• The things to look out for and avoid
• Stick to the subject for a while
• Be honest with yourself
• Be realistic
• Looking for inspiration
• Make a portfolio that you are proud of
• It’s important to develop your own style

MODULE 8
EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE
• Advantages and disadvantages of the various camera formats
• My camera choices for 35mm, medium format and large format
• What camera should I buy?
• Do I buy or rent?
• How many and which lenses do I need?
• Can I use my old film lenses with digital?
• Where is the technology going?
• Lighting equipment. what do I really need?
• Which brands should I buy?
• Portability
• Second hand gear
• Computers and monitors overview
• A really essential tool
• Monitor calibration tools
• Data storage solutions
• Computer tablets
• Capture software, an overview
• Editing software. an overview

MODULE 9
RETOUCHING, RESOLUTION AND PRINTING
• Photoshop
• Recommended dpi for printing
• Working in RGB
• What is gamma?
• Working in CMYK workspace
• Bit depth tonal resolution of the image
• Color channels explained
• File formats PSDs,Tiffs, and Jpegs explained
• Working with 16 bit depth files
• HDR for a wider dynamic range
• Interpolation explained
• Retouching tools
• Using a Densitometer
• Use Adjustment layers
• Levels and Curves
• Sharpening Methods and pitfalls
• Sharpen last … is a must
• Unsharp mask
• Traps for young students
• Less is usually more
• The best sharpening methods
• Working with RAW files
• Do your prints look like the files on screen?
• Calibrate your workflow?

MODULE 10
THE STUDIO
• Choosing a studio – how big do I need?
• Is daylight really important?
• What colour do I paint the studo?
• Poly boards – an essential tool
• How to reduce the costs of a studio
• Can I work from home?
• Stay away from noisy premises
• List of essential equipment
• Parking a must
• Hiring your studio out
• Starting with something cheap and small and hire a bigger studio when needed

MODULE 11
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO
• Try to get a look at other photographers’ work
• Look at the portfolio of stylists to get ideas
• Talk to photo agents
• Be ruthless, don’t dilute the folio
• Is one folio enough?
• Maximize your presentation
• This is where to spend money wisely
• How to market yourself
• Critique of your portfolio by email from Robert Allen Photographer
• Critique of your portfolio by email from an Art Director at JWT

MODULE 12
HOW TO GET WORK
• Tips to find an agent
• How agents work
• The photographers relationship with his/her agent
• Agency politics
• How to prepare yourself for an interview with an agent
• Photo libraries
• The copyright issue
• How to submit images

MODULE 13
PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING
• What equipment is needed on location
• What to look out for when using hired studios

MODULE 14
PROFESSIONAL KNOW-HOW
• How to work with Model agencies
• Working with Fashion Stylists/Wardrobe
• Working with Stylists and Hair & Makeup
• Working with your clients